What you need to know
- A confidential document from the Epic Games v. Apple case claims that Epic is trying to get Microsoft games onto its store.
- Epic claims that Microsoft requires indie devs to agree to games being on Xbox Game Streaming to get published on the Xbox platform.
- The document also states that Xbox chief Phil Spencer meets with Valve's Gabe Newell occasionally.
The Epic Games v. Apple trial continues to yield news related to Microsoft. A 222-page confidential document from the trial, which has allegedly been confirmed to be real by The Verge, discusses how Epic competes with Steam. The most pertinent information in relation to the case is likely that Epic offered Sony $200 million for at least four first-party PlayStation games last year, but the document also sheds light on Microsoft's relationship with Epic.
In addition to trying to convince, and pay, Sony to bring its games over to the Epic Game Store, Epic Games has attempted to get Microsoft to bring games to the store, according to the document. "Their PC Game Pass leader is against what we're doing," reads the document, which adds that Microsoft is "effectively bidding against us for content."
The document alleges that Xbox chief Phil Spencer "is meeting with Gabe [Newell] at Valve occasionally." That text appears in the same section of the document that discusses Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass efforts. There are rumors that Valve is trying to get Xbox Game Pass onto Steam, which could be related (via GameRant).
The document claims that Microsoft requires indie devs to agree to Xbox Game Streaming in order to have a game published on Xbox. "Microsoft is using harsh language around the requirement," says Epic, which adds that it's "sign or be removed from Xbox."
Windows Central has reached out to Microsoft for comment. We'll update this post if Microsoft responds.
